Re: How Much Money Is Your Fragrance Collection Worth

Re: How Much Money Is Your Fragrance Collection Worth

I sold off about 60% of my collection, mostly designer stuff, and used to the money to buy 4 Amouages, 1 Guerlain Parisienne and 1 Mazzolari. So the value to bottle ratio has risen, but the amount of bottles has decreased.
If I had to replace my collection I'd say it would take around $3000.

Re: How Much Money Is Your Fragrance Collection Worth

A rough estimate would lead me to an approximate figure of about 1750 $, but then again it could always be more or less. Probably less, since: a) I do not own ALL of the frags I have spent my money on any longer, for various reasons- like using them up, giving them away or even loss and/or deterioration, mainly of the bottle or the spraying mechanism, not the frag itself and b) also due to the fact that a tiny fraction of my scents came as gifts- never asked or requested, not even suggested in the slightest way- from friends and relatives who know certain things about my fragrance passion.
But then again, my (entirely self-financed) "Christmas collection" has yet to arrive, most likely about 5-6 designer frags (neither mass-market nor niche and half of them backup bottles of some of the frags I already have), which might set me back
an additional figure around 250-300 $, at most.

Re: How Much Money Is Your Fragrance Collection Worth

I've probably spent close to $4000 USD for the entire hobby combined since starting this Summer. But if my recent sell-off activity is any indication, and the value is worth what others would pay for it, then it's worth much, much less than what I spent. I've spent at least a thousand on samples from Luckyscent, TPC, Scentmonkey and various niche houses directly in the past year.

I've toned down my spending dramatically but now I desire higher-end niche fragrances from Montale, Amouage, Creed etc. So I'm buying fewer and spending less overall but I'm spending much more per bottle than my initial spending spree. I was buying everything that smelled good until I calmed down.

Re: How Much Money Is Your Fragrance Collection Worth

I indulge myself. I have spare cash, and love to spend it. Ever since starting this hobby, I'll estimate that I spent an average of 23 dollars a bottle. That leads to a rough estimate of 3 grand, or three months pay, spent on fragrances. For the amount of joy this hobby gives me, that's pocket change.

Re: How Much Money Is Your Fragrance Collection Worth

Originally Posted by N_Tesla

The cost of happiness is money well spent as regards fragrance. Who says you can't by happiness?

This is exactly why I prefer blind-buying. I like the thrill of the hunt, endlessly researching fragrances before pulling the trigger on a bottle at a great price. Getting that bottle in, sniffing it, and seeing that it's absolutely wonderful is such a great feeling. I just blind-bought Minotaure and Nemo, two scents I would have a tough time sampling before purchasing, and am extremely pleased with each of them. That's what it's all about, as far as I'm concerned.

EDIT: For a more extreme example, I blind bought The Dreamer. From Perfumania. With a tester sitting right in front of me. Even the SA asked if I wanted to spray the tester first. Nope! I'd done my research and knew I'd like it.

Re: How Much Money Is Your Fragrance Collection Worth

Originally Posted by Royal

This is exactly why I prefer blind-buying. I like the thrill of the hunt, endlessly researching fragrances before pulling the trigger on a bottle at a great price. Getting that bottle in, sniffing it, and seeing that it's absolutely wonderful is such a great feeling.

What he said!

This is a new hobby for me, so it's my current entertainment and will probably remain so for a while. Whatever I've spent has been actually less than what previous hobbies cost me, take up less room or require less effort. The enjoyment factor is beyond measure.

Re: How Much Money Is Your Fragrance Collection Worth

Hmmm...let's just say I've decided to make a list of their values (or at least what they sell for new) for my husband and daughter just in case they have to deal with my estate.

That is a great idea!
I envision you doing this, not on an excel spreadsheet, but in a beautiful journal or notebook with comments on about what scents you wore at family occassions, just to make it a special memory book for them.

Re: How Much Money Is Your Fragrance Collection Worth

in the past year I've probably spent much more on postage swapping frragrances than acutally purchasing them... shipping overseas costs me about 20 bucks a bottle, and even domestic shipping priority can run over 10 bucks... my collection is starting to dwindle as I've found my HGs are all in pretty much the same family, and it makes it much easier when deciding what to buy

Re: How Much Money Is Your Fragrance Collection Worth

I am not ready to do this calculation. The best moves I have made so far are to buy used bottles when available and to stick with non-niche scents as there are so many to sample before I even think about going to the expensive stuff.

So in this case, ignorance is bliss. However, I do know that this hobby is less than my other hobbies, such as audio, music collecting and motorcycling.